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THE FIELD NOTES

A clearer path to your next decision.

Choose a step-by-step reading path for bank bonuses, credit card rewards, business offers, or debt repayment costs. Start with a guide, then try a free calculator.

FIELD NOTES / 01

Earn your first bank bonus.

Start with eligibility. Then work through the deposits, costs, and dates.

  1. Start with the beginner guideLearn the process before opening an account.
  2. Check what actually countsUnderstand deposit rules and common exclusions.
  3. Plan a bonus paid month by monthSee how a missed deposit month changes the remaining maximum.
  4. Understand BMO’s six-month offerCheck eligible states, each deposit month and the promo-code deadline.
  5. Verify your direct depositCompare current definitions, payment networks, and exclusions.
  6. No payroll direct deposit?Compare current new-money savings offers and their balance holds.
  7. Plan for the tax paperworkUnderstand 1099 forms and the records worth keeping.
  8. Opening an account together?Check both owners’ history, control, and qualification steps.
  9. Student or teen checking?Separate Capital One’s adult STUDENT250 path from its teen account.
  10. Planning more than one bonus?Check account screening, fees, deadlines, and deposit coverage.
  11. Will a bank bonus affect your credit?Separate credit inquiries from checking-account screening reports.
  12. Can you earn the same bonus again?Compare prior-account, prior-bonus, signer, and lifetime rules.
  13. Waiting for the bank bonus?Compare current payout clocks and calculate from the right trigger.
  14. Ready to close an account?Check payout, reversals, fees, and pending activity first.
  15. Estimate the bonus after costsCompare fees and interest you might give up.
  16. Build a side-by-side comparisonChoose up to three offers and share the requirements.
  17. Track deadlines and checklist stepsKeep private plans in this browser and export calendar dates.
  18. Compare the bank shortlistRead the requirements for each selected offer.
FIELD NOTES / 02

Troubleshoot a missing bonus.

Reconcile the terms, posted activity, payout window, and your secure follow-up.

  1. Check when payment is dueSeparate the qualification, assessment, and payout clocks.
  2. Follow the evidence trailA practical checklist for a bonus that has not arrived.
  3. Recheck what countsSeparate qualifying activity from fee-waiver rules.
  4. Open your private checklistRecord dates and case numbers in this browser.
FIELD NOTES / 03

Plan a credit card bonus.

Work from purchases already in your budget, with room for fees and returns.

  1. Read the welcome-bonus guideCheck eligibility, purchases, returns, and timing.
  2. Will a balance transfer count?Separate transfer APR savings from the purchase target and fees.
  3. Can you earn the bonus again?Compare current product, card-family, and prior-bonus restrictions.
  4. Will applying affect your credit?Separate the hard inquiry, new account, utilization, and payment history.
  5. Waiting for the reward?Compare current payout windows and follow a secure escalation checklist.
  6. Ready to close the card?Protect rewards, check the fee, and model the lost credit limit first.
  7. Understand reward tax questionsSeparate purchase-linked rewards, referrals, and business records.
  8. Check your spending planSee how much qualifying spending is still needed.
  9. Understand cash versus milesCompare rewards without treating points as cash.
  10. Compare the card shortlistCompare purchase targets, fees, and reward types.
FIELD NOTES / 04

Find an offer for your business.

Separate business eligibility from the activity needed to earn a bonus.

  1. Start with business eligibilityReview documents, account use, and qualification steps.
  2. Compare business bank bonusesLook at new money, held balances, and transactions.
  3. Calculate a statement-cycle averageSee how daily master-account ledger balances affect a PNC business reward.
  4. Compare business credit cardsCheck spending requirements and prior-card restrictions.
FIELD NOTES / 05

Compare the cost of existing debt.

Look at the full repayment cost as well as the monthly payment.

  1. Understand debt consolidationLearn when a different repayment plan may help.
  2. Compare repayment scenariosTry balances, rates, fees, and repayment terms privately.
  3. Look beyond a lower paymentSee how a longer term can change the total cost.
  4. Account for origination feesUnderstand how fees affect the amount you receive.